Sofa bed construction



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 12, 1

INVENTOR PETE/5 R fiesle/ ATTORNEYS Nov. 26, 1957 P. P. BEBRY SOFA BEDCONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 12, 1953 lllll L Nov.26, 1957 P. P. BEBRY 2,814,050

SOFA BED CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Aug. 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR Y. Para? E s/av ATTORNEYS 1957 P. P. BEBRY SOFA BEDCONSTRUCTION Original Filed Aug. 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5'.

iNVENTOR P5751? 1. Ea er ATTORNEYS United States Patent T7 SOFA BEDCONSTRUCTION Peter P. Bebry, Bayonne, N. .L, assignor to Bebry BeddingCorporation, Bayonne, N. J., a corporation of New York Originalapplication August 12, 1953, Serial No. 373,872, now Patent No.2,734,201, dated February 14, 1956. Divided and this application May 13,1955, Serial No. 508,257

6 Claims. (Cl. -13) This invention relates to a sofa bed construction ofthe type which includes a furniture frame and a foldable metal framehaving a wire mesh spring for supporting a mattress thereon and whichspring, together with the mattress is foldable with the foldable framefrom an extended bed forming relation to a collapsed relation within thefurniture frame to provide a support for seat cushions and theapplication is a division of applicants co-pending application SerialNo. 373,872, filed August l2, 1953, now Patent No. 2,734,201, grantedFebruary 14, 1956.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved structure offoldable frame by which undue sagging of the spring is prevented so asto provide a more comfortable bed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable framewhich is constructed to eliminate inward flexing of the opposite sidesthereof when weight is imposed on the wire mesh spring so as to preventundue sagging of the spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forsupporting and stabilizing the foldable frame intermediate the endsthereof, which means include two pairs of legs hingedly connected withone of the intermediate sections of the frame and which are swingableinto close relation therewith when in collapsed condition within thefurniture frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable frame ofsaid character having a pillow rest which is disposed above the mattressat the inner end of the foldable frame so as to prevent the pillows fromfalling off the end of the mattress when the article of furniture isused as a bed and which is movable from an upstanding relation to anout-of-the-way position with the movement of the foldable frame intocollapsed relation within the furniture frame.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made tothe following specification and accompanying drawings in which thepreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an article of furniture provided with afoldable frame constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the foldable frame in elevation and thefurniture frame in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the foldable frame shown in partially collapsedrelation and the furniture frame in vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the foldable frame being inserted inthe furniture frame.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the foldable frame in fully collapsedrelation within the furniture frame.

. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the inner end of thefoldable frame showing the pillow rest.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the pillow rest in partially collapsedrelation.

'Fig. 8 is a view thereof showing theinner end of the ice a foldableframe and the pillow rest in fully collapsed relation.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 9-9 ofFig. 2.

The article of furniture is of the type which provides a couch, sofa.love seat and the like in one position and a full-sized bed in anotherposition thereof. For this purpose the article of furniture includes afurniture frame 10 and a foldable metallic frame 11 consisting of aplurality of hingedly connected sections arranged in end to end relationand movable from an aligned relation for supporting a mattress so as toprovide a full-sized bed to a collapsed folded relation within thefurniture frame for supporting one or more seat cushions so as to serveas a couch, sofa, love seat and the like.

The foldable metallic frame is composed of four sections, an innersection 12 which is swingably connected with the furniture frame, arelatively long intermediate section 13, a short intermediate section14, and an outer end section 15. The sections are arranged for swingingmovement to dispose the inner section in upright relation within thefurniture frame adjacent the rear thereof and with the shortintermediate section in upright relation adjacent the front of thefurniture frame. This disposes the long intermediate section and outerend section in substantially horizontal relation with the outer endsection arranged uppermost for supporting one or more seat cushionsthereon.

Each of the sections are of angle iron construction, the inner section12 including spaced side rails 16 and 17 which are connected together attheir inner ends by a cross bar 18. The long intermediate section 13consists of side rails 19 and 20, which are pivotally connected to theside rails 16 and 17 by pivot pins 21 extending through the verticalflanges thereof. The short intermediate section 14 is composed of siderails 22 and 23 which are pivotally connected to the side rails 19 and20 of the long intermediate section 13 by pivot pins 24 extendingthrough the vertical flanges thereof, and the outer end section 15consists of side rails 25 and 26 which are pivotally connected to theside rails 22 and 23 of the short intermediate section 14 by pivot pins27. The side rails 25 and 26 are connected together at their outer endsby a cross bar 28. A wire mesh spring 30 of any desired construction isconnected with and stretched between the side rails and cross bars ofthe foldable frame for supporting a mattress M thereon and the springand mattress are adapted to fold with the foldable frame into collapsedrelation within the furniture frame and to retain the mattress in foldedrelation between the sections thereof.

A feature of the foldable frame is the arrangement of legs which inaddition to supporting the frame, function to maintain the side rails ofthe sections in fixed spaced apart relation so as to maintain the springin taut condition and prevent sagging thereof. For this purpose thefoldable frame is provided with three pairs of legs 32, 33 and 34. Thelegs 32 are pivoted at their upper ends on pivot pins 35 to dependinglugs 36 riveted or otherwise aflixed to the vertical flanges of the siderails of the long intermediate section 13, adjacent the inner endthereof so as to dispose the said legs close to the front of thefurniture frame when the foldable frame is in extended bed formingrelation. This arrangement of the legs 32 renders it possible to reducethe depth of the furniture frame or the distance from the front to rearthereof in order that the article of furniture is comfortable when usedas a couch, sofa, love seat and the like. The said legs 32 are rigidlyconnected together so as to prevent outward spreading or inward flexingthereof by upper and lower cross bars 37 and 38.

The legs 33 are pivoted at their upper ends on pivot pins 39 todepending lugs 40 riveted or otherwise atfixed to the vertical flangesof the side rails of the long intermediate section 13 adjacent the outerend thereof. The legs 33 are rigidly connected together so as to preventoutward spreading or inward flexing thereof byupper and lower cross bars41 and 42.

The legs 34 are pivoted on pivot pins 44 to the vertical flanges of theside rails of the outer end section 15 adjacent the outer end thereof.

The legs 32 and 33'are swingable into substantially parallel relationwith the long intermediate section 13 and the legs 34 are foldable intosubstantially parallel relation with the outer end section 15 by thefolding of the foldable frame. For this purpose, the upper ends of thelegs 34 project above the outer end section and are pivotally connectedto links on pivot pins 46 re spectively with the inner ends of the linkspivotally connected against the inner faces of the vertical flanges ofthe side rails of the short intermediate section 14.

One of the legs of each pair of legs 32 and 33 is pivotally connectedwith'a linkage structure at each side which has swinging movement abouta pivotal point 47 at each side of the furniture frame. Each linkagestructure includes a bent link 48 pivoted at its lower end to one of thelegs 33 on a pivot pin 49 and at its upper end the said link is pivotedto the upper end of a bent link 50 on a pivot pin 51. A straight link 52is pivoted at its lower end on a pivot pin 53 to one of the legs 32 andat its upper end the said link is pivoted on a pivot pin 54 to the bentlink 50. The link 50 is pivoted to a bent link 55 on a pivot pin 56, thepivotal connection on the pivot pin 56 being located substantiallymidway between the pivotal connections on the pivot pins 51 and 54. Thebent link 55 is pivoted at its outer end to the inner face of thevertical flange of one of the side rails of the long intermediatesection 13 on a pivot pin 57 and at its inner end the said link ispivoted to a bent link 58 on a pivot pin 59, the latter link beingpivoted on a pivot pin 60 to the vertical flange of one of the siderails of the inner section 12. The link 58 projects beyond the pivot pin60 and is pivoted at its outer end to a link 61 on a pivot pin 62 and atits inner end the said link is pivoted on a pivot pin 63 to an angulatedlink 64 which is pivoted to the inner section and to the furniture framefor swinging movement about pivot pins 65 and 66 respectively fordisposing the inner section in substantially vertical relation and foreffecting movement of the link structure for swinging one of the legs ofeach of the pairs of legs 32 and 33 with the folding of the foldableframe. The lower end of the bent link 5% is rigidly affixed to a shortbar 67 which is pivoted to the furniture frame on one of the pivot pins47. The bar 67 is tensioned by springs 68 connected at their ends tobrackets 69 and 76 which are pivoted respectively to the upper ends ofthe bar 67 on a pivot pin 71 and to a manually adjustable hand lever 72on a pivot pin 73. The hand lever 72 is pivoted to the furniture frameon a pivot pin 74 and is adjustable for varying the tension on thesprings.

Another feature of the foldable frame is the provision of a pillow restunder which the inner end of the mattress projects and which is adaptedto constitute an abutment for preventing the pillows from falling oflthe end of the foldable frame when the same is used as a bed. The pillowrest includes a panel 75 extending across the inner section 12 adjacentthe inner end thereof and which is of a width to constitute an abutmentagainst which the pillow may be disposed. The said panel is aflixed atits ends to side brackets 76 which are secured to side members 77pivoted to the vertical flanges of the side rails of the inner section12 on pivot pins 78. The side members 77 are disposed in uprightrelation when the foldable frame is in bed forming relation and areprovided with cam edges 79 respectively which are engaged by lugs 80projecting inwardly from the links 61. Springs 81 secured to the upperends of the side members 77 and to the links 64 retain the said membersin tensioned engagement against the lugs. When the foldable frame ismoved from the extended bed forming relation to a collapsed relationwithin the furniture frame, the lugs 30 move over the cam edges 79 toswing the side members 77 together with the .panel 7 5 from theupstanding relation shown in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings, to theinclined relation shown in Figs; 5 and 8. e

The legs 32, 33 and. 34 are provided with rollers 82, 83 and 84respectively. for facilitating movement of the foldable frame. The legs34 are formed with notches 85 for engagement with lugs 86 projectingoutwardly from the side rails '25 and 26'when'the said legs are foldedin collapsed relationwith the outer end section. The furniture frame 10includes a movable front panel P which is pivotally connected with links87 and 88 to dispose the same in horizontal relation when the foldableframe is in bed forming relation. The links 87 are pivotally connectedon pivot pins 89 with the vertical flanges of the side rails 25 and 26of the outer end section and the links 88 are pivotally connected onpivot pins 90 to depending lugs 91 riveted or otherwise aflixed to theside rails 22 and 23 of the short'intermediate section 14. Links 92 arepivotally connected at their lower ends to the links 88 on pivot .pins93 and at their upper ends the said links are pivotally connected onpivot pins 94 to the outer ends of links 95. The links '95 are pivotallyconnected at their inner ends on pivot pins 96 to theivertical flangesof the side rails 19 and 20 of the long intermediate section and links97 are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the links on pivotpins 98 respectively and at their outer ends the said links arepivotally connected on pivot pins 99 to the vertical flanges of the siderails 22 and 23 of the short intermediate section 14.

Constructed in this manner, the foldable frame 11 is movable from theextended bed forming relation shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, tothe collapsed folded relation shown in Fig. 5. In moving the foldableframe from the extended bed forming relation to the collapsed relationwithin the furniture frame 10, the outer end section 15 is swungupwardly and into overlying substantially parallel relation with thelong intermediate section 13 and with the short intermediate sectiondisposed vertically therebetween as shown in Fig. 3. By this movementthe legs 34 are swung into parallel relation with the outer end sectionand the panel P is swung into adjacent parallel relation with the shortintermediate section 14. The long intermediate section is then raised totilt the same into inclined relation which is then moved inwardly anddownwardly in the furniture frame 10 as shown in Fig. 4. Furtherdownward swinging moveent disposes the foldable frame in completelycollapsed relation within the furniture frame as shown in Fig. 5. By theaforesaid swinging movement the legs 32 and 33 are moved toward eachother into parallel relation beneath the long intermediate section 13 asillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This folding of the legs 32 and33 towards the long intermediate section 13 allows the legs to clear thefixed front panel F. With the aforesaid movement of the inner section 12into upright relation, the lugs 80 engage the cam faces 79 of the sidemembers 77 for swinging the panel 75 into the out-of-the-way inclinedposition shown in Figs. 5 and 8 of the drawings.

I claim:

1. In an article of the character described, a furniture frame, afoldable frame composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connectedtogether in end to end relation and swingably connected with thefurniture frame for movement from aligned bed forming relation to afolded relation within the furniture frame, said foldable frameincluding an inner section movable from horizontal relation to uprightrelation when in folded condition, a pillow rest panel pivotallyconnected with said inner section, a linkage structure pivotallyconnected with two of said sections and with said furniture frame forswinging said inner section fromsaid horizontal. relation to saidupright relation with the folding of said foldable frame, said pillowrest panel having a cam face, and means tensioning said pillow restpanel to dispose said cam face in engagement with means carried by oneof the links of said linkage structure for moving said pillow rest fromupright relation to an out-of-the-way position with the movement of thefoldable frame to folded relation.

2. In an article of the character described, a furniture frame, afoldable frame composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connectedtogether in end to end relation, links swingably connecting one of saidsections with the furniture frame, a pillow rest panel pivotallyconnected with said last mentioned section, a linkage structurepivotally connected with two or said sections and with one of said linksfor swinging said last mentioned section from horizontal relation toupright relation within the furniture frame with the folding of saidfoldable frame, said pillow rest panel having a cam face, and meanstensioning said pillow rest panel to dispose said cam face in engagementwith means carried by one of said links of said linkage structure formoving said pillow rest panel from upright relation to an out-of-the-wayposition with the movement of said last mentioned section to saidupright relation.

3. In an article of the character described, a furniture frame, afoldable frame composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connectedtogether in end to end relation, links swing-ably connecting one of saidsections with the furniture frame, a pillow rest panel pivotallyconnected with said last mentioned section, a linkage structurepivotally connected with two or said sections and with one of said linksfor swinging said last mentioned section from horizontal relation to anupright relation within the furniture frame with the folding of saidfoldable frame, and said pillow rest panel and one of the links of saidlinkage structure having cam and cam engaging means for moving saidpillow rest panel from upright relation to an out-of-the-way positionwith the movement of said last mentioned section to said uprightrelation.

4. In an article of the character described, a furniture frame, afoldable frame composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connectedtogether in end to end relation, links swingably connecting one of saidsections with the furniture frame, a pillow rest panel pivotallyconnected with said last mentioned section, a linkage structurepivotally connected with two or said sections and with one of said linksfor swinging said last mentioned section from horizontal relation to anupright relation within the furniture frame with the folding of saidfoldable frame,

said pillow rest panel and one of the links of said linkage structurehaving cam and cam engaging means for moving said pillow rest panel fromupright relation to an outof-the-way position with the movement of saidlast mentioned section to said upright relation, and means tensioningsaid pillow rest panel to dispose said cam and cam engaging means inengagement.

5. In an article of the character described, a furniture frame, afoldable frame composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connectedtogether in end to end relation, links swingably connecting one of saidsections with the furniture frame, a pillow rest panel pivotallyconnected with said last mentioned section, a linkage structure at eachside of the foldable frame pivotally connected with two of said sectionsand with said links respectively for swinging said last mentionedsections from horizontal relation to an upright relation within thefurniture frame with the folding of said foldable frame, said pillowrest panel having a cam face at each side thereof, and lugs projectingfrom one of the links of each of said linkage structure arranged inengagement with said cam faces for moving said pillow rest panel fromupright relation to an out-of-the-way position with the movement of saidlast mentioned section to said upright relation.

6. In an article of the character described, a furniture frame, afoldable frame composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connectedtogether in end to end relation, links swingably connecting one of saidsections with the furniture frame, a pillow rest panel pivotallyconnected with said last mentioned section, a linkage structure at eachside of the foldable frame pivotally connected with two of said sectionsand with said links respectively for swinging said last mentionedsection from horizontal relation to an upright relation within thefurniture frame with the folding of said foldable frame, said pillowrest panel having a cam face at each side thereof, lugs projecting fromone of the links of each of said linkage structure arranged inengagement with said cam faces for moving said pillow rest panel fromupright relation to an out-of-the-way position with the movement of saidlast mentioned section to said upright relation, and spring meanstensioning said pillow rest panel to dispose said cam faces inengagement with said lugs respectively.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

